Crystal offers credit to those who lost money under former ownersCrystal offers credit to those who lost money under former owners

This is being extended for cruises on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in partnership with Crystal's new owners, A&K Travel Group.

Eligible former Crystal customers who hold a verified claim in the Crystal Cruises LLC case will be able to apply for a credit to use for a future cruise.

The new Crystal is calling it an 'exceptional initiative,' playing off the company's tagline, 'Crystal: Exceptional at Sea.' 

Not a legal obligation 

'This initiative is a plan we have been working on since we acquired Crystal as it will benefit our most loyal customers. This is not something we were legally obliged to do,' said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, co-chairman of A&K Travel Group and Crystal. 'However, we believe that being exceptional means doing what is unexpected, unusual and unprecedented. We are choosing to help former guests and travel agents recover their money and hope we will be able to focus on returning to service, the exceptional crew and onboard service that has made Crystal an award-winning cruise line for three decades.'

Another alternative to recover lost funds

'What Crystal has decided to do with this gesture is remarkable partly because they had no obligation to do it, but mostly because its gives customers another alternative to recover funds lost in the shutdown,' said Mark Healy, EVP of Moecker Associates, the assignee for the benefit of creditors.  'We are also working to analyze all the claims we received and believe that by the end of the summer we will be in a position to release the first reimbursements.'

Eligibility conditions

In order to qualify for the credit, the following conditions apply:

- Customers must have filed a valid claim in the Crystal Cruises LLC case for amounts owed related to cruises onboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity that were canceled.

- The amount of the credit will be restricted to the outstanding balances owed to the customer minus any funds that have already been refunded through the insolvency proceedings.

- The credit will be split into five installments to be applied toward five future bookings.

- The first booking must be made by July 1, 2023, and the credit must be applied to voyages departing on or before Dec. 31, 2025.

The specific terms and conditions of the 'exceptional initiative' along with FAQs will be posted on Crystal’s website. 

Crystal Serenity’s inaugural sailing is scheduled to depart July 31 from Marseille and Crystal Symphony set to depart on Sept. 1, from Athens. Cruises are planned throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.